She's Becoming DoughMesstic

Sea Salt Caramel Brownies…

Or I guess you could call them Fleur de Sel Caramel Brownies, in case you want to serve them at a fancy dinner party. Everyone knows that you can get away with serving anything at a fancy dinner party if you name it something French. Francais. Whatever. Talk about rich…these are the epitome of rich. [...]

Chocolate Covered Chocolate Doughnuts

Yeah, it’s what’s for breakfast. It’s my personal belief that one cannot get enough chocolate in one’s diet without eating some for every meal. And in case you feel the same, here’s a simple and delicious way to accomplish your dietary goals….chocolate covered chocolate doughnuts. When I used to live in the commune house (sorry [...]

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Cupcakes

Sometimes the simplest things can really hit the spot. Take these cupcakes, for example. I don’t always feel like making a batch of cupcakes from scratch, but I still want the great flavor. The secret to making a box mix cupcake taste fabulous is the way you dress it up. I don’t mean how it [...]

Spaghetti & Meatballs…The Quick & Easy Way

We eat a lot of pasta around here. I’d like to say it is because my husband is from an Italian family, and, well, it’s genetic, but really? We just love carbs in general. Macaroni, Tortellini, Gnocchi, Lasagna…we could eat it for just about every meal. Seven practically does. He’s two…he can handle the caloric [...]

chocolate mousse cheesecake

I do still know how to bake. Perhaps you thought I had given up on it, considering it’s been a while since you saw me make anything other than a cookie. I DO still know how to bake. Take this cheesecake, for example.

butterscotch cream pie

Imagine sitting in the studio audience of the Martha Stewart Show, watching Martha and her special guest chef making a buttercream pie on the overhead monitors (as you can’t actually SEE them due to the umpteen cameras in the way), and you kind of forget where you are. You forget that you are there, live, [...]

Cake Time

Posted on 10 August 2010.

I have so many cakes to post…and I am behind! So, here are 4 that I have done recently…

Slinky Dog Cake – 2 layers with the dog busting through the top layer. I covered the tie-dyed fondant with black dots and paw prints.
Christmas in July Birthday Cake. Red Velvet bottom layer, Dreamsicle tope layer. Melting snowman made of rice krispy treat covered in fondant. Fondant candy cane.
Sweet 16 Birthday cake. Birthday girls colors were oranges and blues, and her mom wanted to incorporate volleyball and teenage girl things into the cake. Some of the details on the bottom layer are volleyballs, though it is tough to see in this poor photo.
Ladybug themed birthday cake. Large daisy is made from round ball pan and sits atop a 10 inch base cake, which is covered in red fondant and black ladybug dots. Fondant ladybugs sit atop the flower.

Posted in cake, sweet seven cakes9 Comments

Hushpuppies and Fresh Peach Butter

Posted on 05 August 2010.

A few weeks ago Jon and I loaded Seven up in the truck and went on a spur of the moment field trip. We didn’t really know where we were going, or why, but away we went. I love trips like that, and wish we had a chance to do them more often…but work and life get in the way. It happens. But, an hour or so after heading out, we were on the Blue Ridge Parkway.

One of our stops along the route was at the Historic Mabry Mill. We strolled around the grounds, where artisans were re-enacting life from the olden days (spinning wool, blacksmithing, milling)…it was really nice. Seven ran and ran. His biggest fascination was not with the artisans, or the mill itself – but with the ducks. Boys. Anyways, while there, I bought a bag of Mabry Mill Corn Meal, knowing I could do a post of some sort involving the Mill…and the Meal. Do you other bloggers think like that? (Admit it, you DO.)

In my case – a Hushpuppy recipe is that post.

Posted in peaches, travel5 Comments

Kahlua and Caramel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Posted on 28 July 2010.

I won’t lie. I’ve been working on this recipe for weeks. Nay, months. It has been an endeavor, I tell you.

But someone, somewhere, MUST conquer the cookie. Even if I am forced to eat all of the test cookies, I intend to be that person. It must be done for the greater good.

Really though, I just keep tweaking a recipe for chocolate chip cookies and now that I have one I really, really like, I have adjusted it to make some nice varieties. This concoction is one of those varieties. It started when I was perusing the fancy candy bar aisle – you know the one – the Lindt, Green & Black’s, Ghiradelli aisle that always lures you in with their latest and greatest chocolate creation. This time I was drawn to the Ghiradelli Milk Chocolate and Caramel bar. Why not? Double the deliciousness in one wrapper. Perfect.

So I bought it.

Posted in 1Featured Cookies, chocolate, cookies7 Comments

Quick Refrigerator Pickles

Posted on 26 July 2010.

“You just put your pickle on everybody’s plate, college boy, and leave the hard stuff to me.” – Johnny Castle

I love Dirty Dancing.

I used to run the catering department for the resort used in filming the movie, so I guess it holds a pretty soft spot for me. But I loved the movie before I worked there, and I love it still. I’ll sit down and watch it every single time it comes on TV – which is really quite a lot. I never get tired of it! Like I said – soft spot.

I also hold a soft spot for these pickles.

A couple of weeks ago, when cucumbers started making their appearance in our garden, Jon decided to give pickle making a shot. I’m so glad he did (Damn him!) I can’t stop eating them. it’s an addiction, really. Instead of the typical dill used, he used fresh cilantro – and to me – there is nothing tastier. The proof is in this pickle recipe. I highly recommend it!

Posted in Jon DoughMessTic8 Comments

Cakes…Small Scale

Posted on 24 July 2010.

Not every cake I do is HUGE. I have just as many orders for little guys! Here are a few of my recent favorites…

Dark Chocolate Cake filled with fresh raspberry puree and whipped chocolate cheesecake, covered in rolled chocolate.
3 layers of Devils Food Cake filled with full peanut butter cheesecake and Reese Cups, iced in whipped chocolate buttercream.
Fudge Cake filled and iced with Chocolate Mousse, Butterfinger wafers and chocolate ganache. Topped with chocolate curls and a swirled chocolate cage.
Chocolate Cake filled with Chocolate and Peanut Butter Buttercream. Turtle on top was “smash cake” for little boy turning 1.
Devils Food Cake filled with Chocolate Mousse Buttercream, marshmallow fluff and chocolate ganache. Iced in same mousse buttercream and topped with dark & white chocolate bark and chocolate covered marshmallows.